the.lost.world-第64节

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torbike；　and　was　already　racing　off；　a　Lindstradt　rifle　slung　across　her　shoulder。
　　　　He　got　behind　the　wheel；　turned　on　the　engine；　and　waited　impatiently　while　the　cable　winched　in；　the　hook　sliding　across　the　grass。　It　seemed　to　take　forever。　Now　the　cable　was　snaking　around　the　tree。　He　waited。　He　looked　over　and　saw　the　light　from　Sarah's　bike　moving　off　through　the　foliage；　heading　down　toward　the　high　hide。
　　　　At　last　the　winch　motor　stopped。　Thorne　threw　the　car　in　gear；　and　roared　away　from　the　clearing。　The　radio　clicked。　〃Ian；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃　Don't　worry　about　me；〃　Malcolm　said；　in　a　dreamy　voice。　〃I'm　just　fine。〃

Kelly　was　lying　flat　on　the　angled　roof　of　the　shed；　looking　down　over　the　side。　She　saw　Arby　hit　the　ground；　on　the　other　side　of　the　structure　from　Eddie。　He　seemed　to　hit　hard。　But　she　didn't　know　what　happened　to　him；　because　she　had　turned　away　to　grip　the　wet　roof；　and　when　she　looked　back　down　again；　Arby　was　gone。
　　　　Gone。

Sarah　Harding　drove　fast　on　the　muddy　jungle　road。　She　wasn't　sure　where　she　was；　but　she　thought　by　following　the　terrain　downward　she　would　eventually　e　out　onto　the　plain。　At　least　that　was　her　hope。
　　　　She　accelerated；　came　around　a　curve；　and　suddenly　saw　a　big　tree　blocking　the　road。　She　braked　to　a　stop；　spun　the　bike　around；　and　headed　back　again。　Farther　up　the　road；　she　saw　Thorne's　twin　headlights；　turning　off　to　the　right。　She　followed　his　Jeep；　racing　her　engine　in　the　night。

Levine　stood　in　the　center　of　the　high　hide；　frozen　with　terror。　The　raptors　were　no　longer　jumping；　no　longer　trying　to　climb　the　structure。　He　heard　them　down　on　the　ground；　snarling。　He　heard　the　sharp　crunch　of　bones。　The　boy　had　never　made　a　sound。
　　　　Cold　sweat　broke　out　all　over　his　body。
　　　　Then　he　heard　Arby　shout；　〃Back！　Get　back！〃

Up　on　the　roof；　Kelly　twisted　around；　trying　to　see　down　on　the　other　side。　In　the　dying　light　of　the　flare；　she　saw　that　Arby　was　inside　the　cage。　He　had　managed　to　close　the　door；　and　was　reaching　his　hand　back　through　the　bars；　to　turn　the　key　in　the　lock。　There　were　three　raptors　near　him；　they　leapt　forward　when　they　saw　his　hand；　and　he　pulled　it　back　quickly。　He　shouted；　〃Get　back！〃　The　raptors　began　to　bite　the　cage；　turning　their　heads　sideways　to　gnaw　the　bars。　One　of　the　animals　got　its　lower　jaw　tangled　up　in　the　looped　elastic　band　that　hung　from　the　key。　The　raptor　pulled　its　head　away；　stretching　the　elastic；　and　suddenly　the　key　snapped　out　of　the　lock；　smacking　against　its　neck。
　　　　The　raptor　squealed　in　surprise　and　stepped　backward。　The　elastic　was　now　looped　tight　around　the　lower　jaw；　the　key　glinting　in　the　light。　The　raptor　scratched　at　it　with　its　forearms；　trying　to　pull　the　elastic　loop　off；　but　it　was　caught　around　the　curved　back　teeth；　and　the　animal's　efforts　just　made　the　elastic　snap　on　the　skin。　Soon　it　gave　up；　and　began　rubbing　its　snout　in　the　dirt；　trying　to　get　the　key　off。
　　　　Meanwhile　the　other　raptors　managed　to　pull　the　cage　free　from　the　superstructure；　and　knock　it　over　onto　the　ground。　They　ducked　their　heads；　slashing　Arby　behind　the　bars。　When　they　realized　that　wouldn't　work；　they　kicked　and　stomped　the　cage　repeatedly。　More　animals　joined　them。　Soon　seven　raptors　were　clustered　over　the　cage。　They　kicked　it　and　it　rolled　away　from　the　hide。　Their　bodies　blocked　her　view　of　Arby。
　　　　She　heard　a　faint　sound；　and　looked　up　to　see　two　headlights　in　the　distance。　It　was　a　car。
　　　　Someone　was　ing。

Arb　was　in　hell。　Inside　the　cage；　he　was　surrounded　by　black　snarling　shapes。　The　raptors　couldn't　get　their　jaws　through　the　spaces　in　the　bars；　but　their　hot　saliva　dripped　down　on　him；　and　when　they　kicked　their　claws　came　through；　slashing　his　arms　and　shoulders　as　he　rolled。　His　body　was　bruised。　His　head　hurt　from　banging　against　the　bars。　His　world　was　swirling；　terrifying　pandemonium。　He　knew　only　one　thing　with　certainty。
　　　　The　raptors　were　rolling　him　away　from　the　hide。

As　the　car　came　closer；　Levine　went　to　the　railing　and　looked　down。　In　the　light　of　the　red　flare；　he　saw　three　raptors　dragging　what　remained　of　Eddie's　body　toward　the　jungle。　They　paused　frequently　to　fight　over　it；　snapping　at　each　other；　but　they　still　managed　to　haul　it　away。
　　　　Then　he　saw　that　another　group　of　raptors　were　kicking　and　pushing　the　cage。　They　rolled　it　down　the　game　trail；　and　into　the　forest。
　　　　Now　he　could　hear　the　rumble　of　the　jeep　engine；　as　the　car　came　closer。　He　saw　Thorne's　silhouette　behind　the　wheel。
　　　　He　hoped　he　had　a　gun。　Levine　wanted　to　kill　every　one　of　these　damned　animals。　He　wanted　to　kill　them　all。

Up　on　the　roof；　Kelly　watched　the　raptors　kicking　the　cage；　rolling　it　away。　One　raptor　remained　behind；　turning　around　and　around　in　circles；　like　a　frustrated　dog。　Then　she　saw　it　was　the　raptor　that　had　caught　its　jaw　in　the　elastic　loop。　The　key　still　dangled　along　its　check；　glinting　in　the　red　light。　The　raptor　jerked　its　head　up　and　down；　trying　to　get　free。
　　　　The　Jeep　came　roaring　forward；　and　the　raptor　seemed　confused　by　the　sudden　bright　lights。　Thorne　accelerated；　trying　to　hit　it　with　his　car。　The　raptor　turned　and　ran　off；　out　into　the　plain。
　　　　Kelly　scrambled　off　the　roof；　and　headed　down。

Thorne　threw　open　the　door　as　Levine　jumped　into　the　car。　〃They　got　the　kid；〃　Levine　said；　pointing　along　the　trail。
　　　　Kelly　was　still　ing　down；　shouting；　〃Wait！〃
　　　　Thorne　said；　〃Get　back　up　there。　Sarah's　ing！　We'll　get　Arby！〃
　　　　〃But　…　〃
　　　　〃We　can't　lose　them！〃　Thorne　grinned　the　engine；　and　started　to　drive　down　the　game　trail；　chasing　the　raptors。

In　the　trailer；　Ian　Malcolm　listened　to　the　voices　shouting　over　the　radio。　He　heard　the　panic；　the　confusion。
　　　　Black　noise；　he　thought。　Everything　going　to　hell　at　once。
　　　　A　hundred　thousand　things　interacting。
　　　　He　sighed；　and　closed　his　eyes。

Thorne　drove　fast。　The　jungle　was　dense　around　them。　The　trail　ahead　began　to　narrow；　the　big　palms　edging　closer；　slapping　the　car。　He　said；　〃Can　we　make　it？〃
　　　　〃It's　wide　enough；〃　Levine　said。　〃I　walked　it　earlier　today。　Paras　use　this　trail。〃
　　　　〃How　could　this　happen？〃　Thorne　said。　〃The　cage　was　attached　to　the　scaffolding。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Levine　said。　〃It　broke　off。〃
　　　　〃How？　How？〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　see。　A　lot　happened。〃
　　　　〃And　Eddie？〃　Thorne　said　grimly。
　　　　〃It　was　fast；〃　Levine　said。
　　　　The　Jeep　plunged　through　the　jungle；　bouncing　hard　as　it　followed　the　game　trail；　they　banged　their　heads　on　the　cloth　roof。　Thorne　drove　recklessly。　Up　ahead；　the　raptors　were　moving　fast；　he　could　hardly　see　the　last　of　the　animals；　sprinting　in　the　darkness　up　ahead。

〃They　wouldn't　listen　to　me！〃　Kelly　shouted；　as　Sarah　pulled　up　on　the　motorcycle。
　　　　〃About　what？〃
　　　　〃The　raptor　took　the　key！　Arby's　locked　in　the　cage　and　the　raptor　took　the　key！〃
　　　　〃Where？〃　Sarah　said。
　　　　〃There！〃　she　said；　pointing　across　the　plain。　In　the　moonlight　they　could　just　see　the　dark　shape　of　the　fleeing　raptor。　〃We　need　the　key！〃
　　　　Get　on；〃　Sarah　said；　unshouldering　her　rifle。　Kelly　climbed　behind　her　on　the　bike。　Sarah　thrust　the　gun　into　her　hands。　〃Can　you　shoot？〃
　　　　〃No。　I　mean；　I　never　…　〃
　　　　〃Can　you　drive　a　bike？〃
　　　　〃No；　I　…　〃
　　　　〃Then　you　have　to　shoot；〃　Sarah　said。　〃Now；　look：　trigger's　here。　Okay？　Safety's　here。　Twist　it　like　this。　Okay？　It'll　be　a　rough　ride；　so　don't　release　it　until　we　get　close。〃
　　　　〃Close　to　what？〃
　　　　But　Sarah　didn't　hear　her。　She　grinned　the　engine；　and　the　bike　accelerated；　heading　out　into　the　plain；　chasing　the　fleeing　raptor。　Kelly　put　one　arm　around　Sarah；　and　tried　to　hold　on。

The　Jeep　bounced　along　the　jungle　trail；　splashing　through　muddy　pools。　〃I　don't　remember　it　this　rough；〃　Levine　said；　clutching　the　armhold。　〃Maybe　you　should　slow　down　…　〃
　　　　〃Hell　no；〃　Thorne　said。　〃If　we　lose　sight　of　him；　it's　over。　We　don't　know　where　the　raptor　nest　is。　And　in　this　jungle；　at　night。。。Ah；　hell。〃
　　　　Up　ahead；　the　raptors　were　leaving　the　trail；　running　off　into　the　underbrush。　The　cage　was　gone。　Thorne　could　not　see　the　terrain　very　well；　but　it　looked　like　a　sheer　hill；　going　almost　straight　down。
　　　　〃　You　can't　do　it；〃　Levine　said。　〃It's　too　steep。〃
　　　　〃I　have　to　do　it；　〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Don't　be　crazy；〃　Levine　said。　〃Face　facts。　We've　lost　the　kid；　Doe。　It's　too　bad；　but　we've　lost　him。〃
　　　　Thorne　glared　at　Levine。　〃He　didn't　give　up　on　you；〃　he　said。　〃And　we're　not　giving　up　on　him。〃
　　　　Thorne　spun　the　wheel　and　drove　the　Jeep　over　the　edge。　The　car　nosed　down　sickeningly；　gained　speed；　and　began　a　steep　descent。
　　　　〃Shit！〃　Levine　yelled。　〃You'll　kill　us　all〃
　　　　〃Hang　on！〃
　　　　Bouncing；　they　plunged　downward　into　darkness。

SIXTH　CONFIGURATION

〃Order　collapses　in　simultaneous　regions。　Survival　is
now　unlikely　for　individuals　and　groups。〃

IAN　MALCOLM

Chase

The　motorcycle　raced　forward　across　the　grassy　plain。　Kelly　clutched　Sarah　with　one　hand；　and　held　the　rifle　with　the　other；　the　rifle　was　heavy；　her　arm　was　getting　tired。　The　motorcycle　jolted　over　the　terrain。　The　wind　blew　her　hair　around　her　face。
　　　　〃Hold　on！〃　Sarah　shouted。
　　　　The　moon　broke　through　the　clouds；　and　the　grass　before　them　w　as　silver　in　the　moonlight。　The　raptor　was　forty　yard